Fellow officers give Newtown cops Christmas off

Updated 10:29 pm, Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Monroe police officer John McAulay directs traffic at the site of the massive memorial setup in downtown Newtown on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. Police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers for the holiday. less

Monroe police officer John McAulay directs traffic at the site of the massive memorial setup in downtown Newtown on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. Police from other towns around ... more

A Manchester police vehicle goes by the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue builing as police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. less

A Manchester police vehicle goes by the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue builing as police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on ... more

A Monroe police officer confers with a Manchester police officer in their vehicle near the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue builing as police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. less

A Monroe police officer confers with a Manchester police officer in their vehicle near the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue builing as police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown ... more

Monroe police officer John McAulay directs traffic at the site of the massive memorial setup in downtown Newtown on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. Police from other towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers for the holiday. less

Monroe police officer John McAulay directs traffic at the site of the massive memorial setup in downtown Newtown on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. Police from other towns around ... more

Monroe police officer Sgt. Stephen Corrone directs traffic as he and other police officers from towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December 25, 2012. less

Monroe police officer Sgt. Stephen Corrone directs traffic as he and other police officers from towns around the region came in to relieve Newtown officers on Christmas Day in Newtown, Conn. on Tuesday December ... more

NEWTOWN -- He's more than 50 miles from home, it's Christmas Eve and snow's starting to whip his face, but Madison Police Officer Tom Bull is right where he wants to be: Directing traffic near the Newtown school shooting memorial.

Between sips of donated coffee, Bull helps visitors -- locals, out-of-towners, anyone trying to get a look at the nation's outpouring of support -- cross the road. Cars meander by with passengers taking photos of the shrine to 26 lives lost senselessly.

"We just came to help out," Bull mumbled, his jacket zipped to his chin, a black cap pulled tight to cover as much of his face and head as possible.

Bull won't make a dime. All his overtime pay will go to the families of victims, or some other worthwhile cause related to Sandy Hook Elementary, he said.

Nearly every police force in Connecticut has dispatched officers to help Newtown since the Dec. 14 tragedy, and twice officers have relieved the entire Newtown department.

During the 24 hours from midnight Christmas Eve through Christmas Day, about 20 to 25 officers covered four-hour shifts so that Newtown's 45-member force did not have to work, said Doug Fuchs, the police chief in Redding. Last Friday, 50 to 70 outside officers worked shifts after the horrific shootings.

"On Friday, we did it so the Newtown officers could be with each other," Fuchs said. "And today we did it so the Newtown officers could be with their families."

The shields on the sides of their sleeves are different. Shelton. Bethel. Monroe. Madison. Hartford. Bridgeport. New Canaan. Manchester.

"Many of these officers that are here today didn't even know where Newtown was two weeks ago," Fuchs said. "Most of us have never seen each other before, but I can tell you we all get together with a common mission: That's to support our fellow officers here in Newtown and to make sure this community is as safe as humanly possible."

Every out-of-town officer volunteered to work over the holiday, he said, with many bypassing the usual extra pay, not to mention celebrating with their families.

Newtown officers said they were heartened by the chance to spend Christmas with their families and for the help they have received in the days since the shootings.

"We're very grateful," said Newtown Sgt. Steven Santucci on Monday as he worked a double shift. Santucci would have been on duty on Tuesday, too, had it not been for the volunteers.

"The support we've received has been tremendous, and it's great to see how well we've worked together. A lot of our people will be able to spend the time with their families," Santucci said.

On Christmas afternoon, a teary-eyed woman delivered a plate of cookies to the police station, one of many visitors to stop by with snacks and support. A poster inside reads, "Our Hearts and Prayers are with you!! Love, South Carolina."

"The amount of hugs that we've all gotten is just overwhelming," said Fuchs, who wore a green ribbon on his shirt, reflecting Sandy Hook's colors, and a green wristband that read "Angels."

Amelia Ruth, 60, of Trenton, N.J., in Newtown to visit her sister, said seeing the police band together was impressive -- and a powerful reminder.

"You don't realize how strong you are until you need to lift someone up," Ruth said, looking over a handmade sign quickly fading in the snow. "We're not going to let someone tear us down. We're all strong and proud."